Acne treatment

Description

Mostly referred to as acne vulgaris, this skin disorder occurs when the sebaceous gland the lining of the hair follicle become overactive because it results in clogging of the hair follicles due to accumulation of sebum and cells. This block or plug is referred to as comedo. Depending upon the location of the plug it is referred to as closed comedo or white head if it below the surface of the skin and open comedo or blackhead when the top is dark. View more...

Causes

This condition mostly affects teenagers; however it could also affect adults between ages 25 and 30. One of the main contributing factors due to which acne occurs is hormonal and testosterone is found to play a large role in causing acne. Other factors include family history.

Prevention

Tips on preventing acne include the following: It helps to use astringents to eradicate the excess oil that generally accumulates and contributes to acne formation; Oil-free moisturizers can be used if the skin appears to be rough particularly after washing the face; Water-based products are found to be more effective in comparison to oil or petroleum-based products; Facial masks, especially a honey mask is found to help treat acne effectively; Washing the face regularly especially with a sulfur-based soap is also recommended; People with long hair need to be extra careful mainly because oil contained in hair can get mixed with dust and land on the face which will catch the same and result in dirt and oil which leads to acne. Hence regular hair washes or keeping the hair short helps; Taking multi-vitamins on a daily basis too helps keep skin healthy and fresh; Chromium supplements taken once daily too help treat pimples instantly; Vitamin A supplements too help protect and nurture the skin effectively; All make up should be washed and cleaned prior to retiring for the day although it is best to not use any make up if one has to use, it is better to use ones with little or no chemicals; Drinking a minimum of 8 to 10 glasses of water helps flush out all toxins from the body keeping the skin well hydrated and moisturized. View more...

Common Symptoms

Acne can be classified into two main factors; non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne; and the non-inflammatory variety generally occur as few whiteheads and blackheads on the face. It is the milder form of acne and can be treated with nonprescription medications. Most people suffer from this form of acne.

Rare Symptoms

Inflammatory acne consists of inflamed whiteheads and red pimples along with the development of pustules. This is a more severe form of acne and untreated it can lead to disfiguring cysts and deep, pitting scars of the face, neck, back, chest and groin. Prescription medication and in some cases surgery might be required to treat this form of acne.

Traditional Treatment

Physicians recommend some of the following to help treat mild acne: • Nonprescription acne medication and apply regularly and these include drugs containing sulfur, resorcinol, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide, which are used in the treatment of mild acne. • Washing the face and other affected area regularly with soap or cleanser that is mild and does not contain too many chemicals. • Topical acne treatment include use of retinoids like tretinoin; tazarotene or adapalene; and antibiotics like benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin. • Oral antibiotics also can be used. • Hormonal medications like oral contraceptive pills for women. • Sever form of acne can be treated using oral medications like isotretinoin or Accutane. View more...

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